York, England – A City Worth Checking Out For Yourself
York, one of the most historically interesting and exciting cities in the United Kingdom, is situated in the beautiful county of North Yorkshire in northern England. It was first founded by the Romans in 71 AD, although previously it was a settlement for a tribe known as the Brigantes. York has had a troubled history with numerous leaders but has always remained a major trading center. It became a thriving cloth manufacturing center during the Middle Ages and today is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United Kingdom.
There is so much to see and do in York, it is hard fitting it into a book, let alone a short article. However, we have narrowed down the list and chosen the best few sites to see in York and detailed them for you below.
One of the most spectacular castles in the UK is York Castle. While the castle itself is hard to distinguish today due to the development of the city inside the walls of the castle, the Norman keep known as Clifford’s Tower is still present, though in a ruined state. The keep is one of the most popular tourist attractions in York, along with the castle walls which make a popular walk for tourists around the 3 miles of central York. As the castle developed from 71 AD when it was first built in one guise, up to the end of the English civil war in 1684 when it was last used as a military fort, the castle has changed dramatically into a sprawling complex of historical buildings and structures that most tourists find fascinating.
If you find yourself with time to spare and are eager to explore York for yourself of foot then the first place you should head to is the Snikelways. The Snikelways is the name given to an area of York that comprises of lots of small winding footpaths and alleyways, many of which lead to the old market areas of Pavement and St. Samson’s Square. The alleyways can only be passed through on foot and many are surrounded by some beautiful historic architecture and paved with classic cobblestones.
In 866 AD the Vikings came to England and took over York, renaming it from Eoforwic (of Angles origin) to Jórvik. During the reign of the Vikings, York (which it became known as in the 13th century) changed dramatically. The best way to see how York or Jórvik looked in the 5th century is by visiting the Jórvik Viking Center. This attraction is immensely popular with tourists and is one of the most popular attractions in the UK outside of the capital, attracting over 16 million tourists every year. The center is laid out partly as a walk through tour and museum and partly as a ride in which you sit inside a ‘time capsule’ and you are taken around the streets of Jórvik interacting with the actors and watching the various attractions inside the center.
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